(FOX 31 News) ALBANY, GA — The Albany Dougherty Inner City Authority (ADICA) is working on numerous projects, and instead of paying for a contractor they are giving the experience to local students hoping to increase the skills of future local employees.

Turner Jobs Corps is helping ADICA redo the streetscape in the 100 block of Pine Avenue to make it more pedestrian friendly, such as repairing the sidewalks, adding trees and better lighting. They are also helping to complete steel frame and minor concrete work for the new art park in the Old Napa building.

Downtown Manager Aaron Blair says he wants to collaborate with other educational institutions along with Turner Job Corps on other projects in the future.

“We have projects that we need to do and they need training. All those institutions as well as turner job corps they need real life experience which in turn is going to make them better employees when they go into the job market,” says Blair.

Blair says Turner Job Corps is excited to help more and plans to do more work for the area.

He says by seeking the help of these students, ADICA is cutting its spending by half.